Tomorrow is election day in Alberta – get out and vote! Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

• Happy Earth Day! Sounds like the festivities at Fort Edmonton Park were great. All this week it’s the 15 to Clean Challenge – take 15 minutes out of your day to pick up litter or report graffiti.
• Our province is going to be a much different place on Tuesday, at least politically speaking, regardless of the election outcome. The latest results show the Wildrose marginally ahead of the PCs. Or do they? Angus Reid says the Wildrose have maintained a healthy lead.
• I was very happy to see Mayor’s Nenshi and Mandel speak out against the controversial statements made by Wildrose candidates. Mandel said: “We’re a very multicultural, dynamic and creative community. I don’t think there’s any place in our province for homophobism or diminishing the value of any group.”
• The Calgary Zoo has announced long-term plans to relocate its elephants to another facility. In response, the Edmonton Valley Zoo released a statement saying that Lucy isn’t going anywhere.
• On Friday, the federal government announced new funding for nine arts and culture organizations in Edmonton. A total of $833,772 will be managed and invested by the Edmonton Community Foundation and the Edmonton Symphony & Concert Hall Foundation.
• The feds also provided $1.5 million to kick start the 10-year expansion and revitalization of the TELUS World of Science.
• In case you missed it, here is my recap of EEDC’s Annual Luncheon. Our city’s economic report card was released at the event – we scored an “A-minus”.
• The headline on this article says it all: Leduc picks patios over parking. Let’s make it happen here in Edmonton!
• Fashion designer Malorie Urbanovitch is the winner of the Edmonton pool in the Mercedes-Benz Start Up competition. She’s off to Toronto in October to showcase her designs.
• Here is the 2011 Annual Policing Plan Report Card. It outlines how EPS performed against goals and initiatives set for 2011, and highlights plans for 2012.
• Here’s the latest Council Roundup. An independent City Council Compensation Committee has been appointed and will make recommendations to Council by January 31, 2013.
• Northlands has appointed Stuart Cullum as the new Vice President of Agriculture. He has previously the inaugural Executive Director of novaNAIT.
• Unisource is scheduled to open a new 118,000 square foot full-service facility here in Edmonton on April 30.
• The late night weekend bus trial was a big success, with more than 1900 passengers carried during the project.
• It’s official: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is among the rookies named as finalists for the Calder Trophy.
• Ready to hit the golf course? Victoria and Riverside both opened on Friday.
• Kaleido is once again hosting the Decorate a Lampost Contest! Project proposals are due by July 16.

Here are some upcoming events:

• There are a few election parties listed here. Know of another? Let me know!
• The Analytics, Big Data & the Cloud conference kicks off tomorrow at the Fantasyland Hotel. It runs through Wednesday.
• Also starting tomorrow is the fourth annual International Conference on Urban Traffic Safety.
• Mayor Mandel will deliver his annual State of the City Address on Tuesday at the Shaw Conference Centre.
• The second Cash Mob takes place on Wednesday.
• The latest Southeast to West LRT Community Conversation takes place on Thursday at Annunciation School.
• Help us clean up 104 Street on Friday morning at the Cleaning Blitz!
• The Elements Music Festival takes place on Friday and Saturday.
• Also taking place Friday and Saturday is the Edmonton International Beerfest.
• The Toronto Rock are in town on Saturday evening to take on the Edmonton Rush.
• On Sunday I’ll be at the Shaw Conference Centre volunteering for Homeless Connect.
• For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.

The old Bank of Montreal building is nearly gone!

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

• There’s no time like election time during which to make an arena-related announcement. The City and the Katz Group announced on Friday that PCL Construction has been selected as “the preferred company to manage construction of the proposed downtown arena.”
• On Wednesday the City announced Food in the City, a conference taking place on May 25 and 26. It’s “a key step in the development of a city-wide food and agriculture strategy” and is listed as one the possible public involvement opportunities for the project. Anyone is welcome to participate, assuming you have $175 to spend. That’s completely wrong, as Liane wrote. I had the opportunity to ask the two City officials behind the event about this on Friday, and they told me that the conference is not a public involvement event (which obviously is not true). Just one more thing to add to the list of public involvement failures.
• For the third straight year, the Edmonton Oilers have landed the 1st overall pick in the NHL entry draft. Assuming they don’t trade it, the Oilers will be just the second franchise to make three consecutive number one picks.
• The City of Edmonton has become the first major municipal government in Canada to use Gmail and other Google apps. The new system will be phased in over the next two years. Here is Google’s post about the decision. I think the most incredible part of the news is this: “Currently, about 3,000 employees who work throughout the City and not in an office setting do not have email accounts.”
• About $200,000 was raised in the latest DONATE A RIDE campaign, which meant that more than 91,000 ETS tickets were distributed to Edmontonians in need.
• Edmonton is finally going to be doing something with all of that sunshine we get! NAIT and the City are starting a solar energy research project.
• Some sad news for the Valley Zoo. Nauticus, a 21-year-old South American sea lion, passed away on Friday. The average life span of a South American sea lion is 16 to 20 years.
• The City is looking to redevelop the area around the Stadium LRT Station. The $39 million plan would feature a new pedestrian and cyclist friendly street across the LRT tracks.
• Do you think Sean Horcoff is overpaid? You’re not alone. “I’ve always been a guy who whatever my role is, whatever is wanted out of me, I’m going to play it to the best of my ability,” said the 33-year-old centre. “The unfortunate thing is that it just doesn’t add up to what I’m being paid to do.”
• Former Edmonton police chief Robert Lunney was back in the city recently to promote his new self-published book, Parting Shots: My Passion for Policing.
• Possibly my favorite story of the week: Councillor Tony Caterina was working late on Wednesday when a fire broke out in the City Hall kitchen. Caterina pulled the fire alarm and used an extinguisher to put the fire out.
• Wondering what Wildrose leader Danielle Smith thinks about Edmonton? “I luvvvv Edmonton!”
• For the latest election news, check out daveberta.ca.
• It’s nice to be included in this list: Nadine is working on The Edmonton Do-Gooder Project.

Awesome panoramic of Edmonton Clinic North!

Here are some upcoming events to note:

• EEDC’s Annual Luncheon is taking place on Tuesday at the Shaw Conference Centre.
• On Tuesday evening, CANDI{DATE} is taking place at The Common. It’ll be a great opportunity to meet some of the candidates running in the election!
• The City is hosting an “idea gathering workshop” on Wednesday evening regarding Queen Elizabeth Park.
• At the Citadel that evening, TEDxEdmonton’s second installment in the Salon Series will be taking place. Speakers will be addressing the theme of “Rethinking Human Engagement”.
• National Meetings Industry Day is Thursday with the celebration taking place first thing in the morning. I’m very happy to have been nominated for the NMID Influence Award!
• If you’re free at lunch on Thursday, head over to the CBC Edmonton studios for a leaders’ forum with Brian Mason, Alison Redford, Raj Sherman, and Danielle Smith.
• The Edmonton Woman’s Show takes place this weekend at the Edmonton Expo Centre.
• On Saturday evening, the Edmonton Rush are hosting the Calgary Roughnecks. Should be a great game!
• Also Saturday is hot chefs, cool bEATS. Sharon wrote about the event here. We’re looking forward to it!
• For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.